Believe in Revolution ©

XXVII

Andrei had started running fast but it didn't matter to Ivan, who chased him (at Leon's surprise) and caught his right wrist.

"Ivan, what for God's sake...?" Andrei asked

"Hand me the knife" Ivan said, deadly serious "Now"

"Why?" Andrei asked

"Nikulin's against me" Ivan said "It's my fight, just mine. Now, hand me the damn knife"

Andrei handed him the knife and Ivan didn't waste a second in running. He needed to be fast.

Lots of messy thoughts started passing through Ivan's mind at the speed of sound. He didn't have time to think in anything. But he did.

He remembered when he first heard the Bolsheviks, back when he reached twenty at the beginning of 1917. They had ideas of class equality, public property among other idyllic plans. He listened to them like an obedient puppy. And believed them like a little child. He remembered his father's shouts at home in Vladivostok. And his pregnant mother listening, with a seventeen-year-old Leon by his side, but agreeing with him. He left and joined the Reds actively.

He didn't know still how one of his bosses managed to make him enter as a spy in the Governor's House of Tobolsk, where the Provisional Government was keeping the Romanovs. If they were succesful, they'd grant him active membership at the end of the revolution. Neverthless, he was grateful about the choice.

A image of the old Imperial family came to his mind. He remembered how his father wasn't right, but the Bolsheviks weren't either. The Tsar wasn't a good leader but not a cruel one. He was a family man and not really qualified to rule an Empire.

The Tsaritsa took the lead in the family. She cared deeply for her family and was as deeply religious, a lot more than her husband. She didn't speak Russian (she communicated with her children in English) so he could not really understand her.

The young four Tsarevnas were beautiful, each one in their own way. Olga, the oldest (she was even older than him), was intelligent and responsible with a serious gaze. She had a beautiful smile which was rarely seen, her characteristic trait, and the short hair (well, it seemed short because they always had it combed in a way that it didn't reach their shoulders) that she shared with her inmediate sister.

Tatiana resembled her mother. She was his age but he was taller than her. She seemed intelligent and resposible too, and extremly elegant. Olga and her were really close, the "Big Pair". He remembered she was considered the prettiest of the four. He couldn't say she was, the four were beautiful. It was impossible to choose.

Maria was a sweetheart. He hadn't known her pretty much, but she seemed kind and friendly. At least, friendlier than her older sisters. She also seemed innocent and was always immersed in some artistic activity. Most of the time he had been watching her, she was either drawing or painting.

Anastasia, the other member of the "Little Pair" (because of her closeness to Maria), was a whole other world. The last Tsarevna seemed mischevious and a natural prankster, even though her beauty and youth. He knew she was known as "Shvíbzik" that meant "little demon" in Russian because of this. She was pretty, indeed, and really active. Ivan remembered how she tried to keep her whole family in a good mood even if they were in their most difficult moments. He remembered specially when he had nearly been one of her pranks' target at Yekaterimburg. That prank was originally intended for the Tsarina's maid, Demidova, and it was the typical hole in the ground covered by leaves. He hadn't noticed it and nearly stepped into it. The Tsarevna had been quick in warning him. Later, she said it wasn't intended for him and pleaded him not to be angry. He just said he wasn't but also that she should be more careful as other guards wouldn't be very happy if they ended in a prank. She thanked him and returned. It had been his first contact with other members of the Romanov household.